Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. “My role model of an independent woman when I was growing up. ‘Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!’”

Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth. “Since reading this book as a kid, I have been obsessed with efficiency. Read it at your own risk.”

The Good Earth=by Pearl S. Buck.“Pearl S. Buck’s house in Nanjing was the office of my department at Nanjing University, but we students couldn’t read this book because it was banned in China. I finally read it in the U.S.”

Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson. “Torn between staying in the IT industry and becoming a (poor) PhD student in journalism, I used Benjamin Franklin’s method to decide. It worked well. Read it with John Adams.”

John Adams by David McCullough. “Both Franklin and Adams were great men, in such different ways. They had many disagreements, but the American Revolution needed them both.”

Personal History by Katharine Graham. “An inspiration for me when I am struggling with insecurities. Read it with The Snowball. The two are great friends and business partners.”

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore. “This book is both funny and profound. The teenage Jesus takes a road trip to look for the three wise men, and encounters Buddhism and Hinduism along the way. I’m amazed by the author’s understanding of all three religions.”

The Power of Mythby Joseph Campbell. “My all-time favorite. I still read it a few times a year.”

The Way of Chuang Tzu by Thomas Merton. “Instead of ‘lost in translation,’ I find there’s much to gain. Maybe because without cultural preconceptions, a Westerner can read this ancient text with fresh eyes and see its original meaning more readily. Read it together with Tao: The Watercourse Way.”

Tao: The Watercourse Way by Alan Watts. “I’m amazed by Watts’ understanding of Eastern philosophies. He has the ability to express complicated ideas in an easy to understand manner.”

And here, many more great books from a variety of thinkers. .

Rainn Wilson’s book picks

Actor Rainn Wilson is best known as Dwight Schrute on The Office – but he is also the co-founder of SoulPancake (with whom TED is proud to share a 2013 Webby Award).

His curation philosophy: “I wanted to choose books in line with SoulPancake’s ongoing exploration of ‘life’s big questions.’ This is a diverse collection of words that has enriched my human experience in a profound way.”

The Seven Mysteries of Lifeby Guy Murchie. “An enormous tome of knowledge, wisdom, science, philosophy and transcendental mysticism that was said to have inspired Carl Sagan’s Cosmos. Like Walt Whitman as a science geek.”

A Giacometti Portraitby James Lord. “Writer James Lord sat for a portrait by the brilliant, haunted and exacting artist Alberto Giacometti. It was supposed to last one day and ended up lasting eighteen. A fascinating study of the obsessive artist in the throes of his creation.”

This Is a Bookby Demetri Martin. “The sharpest, oddest wit in an evolutionary line that includes James Thurber, Steve Martin and Steven Wright. Demetri’s brain astounds me.”

Narrow Road to the Interiorby Matsuo Bashō.“The master of the haiku wrote this travelogue of his journey through northern Japan in the 17th century. Everywhere he went he composed a poem and connected his work to his cultural heritage, his spiritual life and, most of all, nature. A riveting meditation.”

Big Catsby Holiday Reinhorn. “This magnificently strange, moving and hysterical debut collection of short stories was, full disclosure, written by my WIFE! But I wouldn’t recommend so highly if I didn’t think it one of the very best short story collections.”

Rome and Jerusalem: The Clash of Ancient Civilizationsby Martin Goodman. “My two favorite cities have a storied and contentious history, richly documented in this terrific study. Sparks fly and, meanwhile, Christianity sweeps in and transforms the world in a few short hundred years. Fascinating.”

Her curation philosophy: “I picked books that have made me cry, laugh and marvel. Each one of these books has been instrumental in making me want to write — some dating back to childhood, others from more recent explorations.”

Everything Is Everything and Working Class Represent by Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz.“Cristin was the first person to ever teach me that women poets could be funny and silly while still being smart and moving. I love the matter-of-fact style she uses, and the way she examines everyday life with humor and care.”

A Barrel of Laughs, A Vale of Tears by Jules Feiffer. “I love self-aware books. This one pokes fun at traditional fairytales and also at the way books work. When I read it for the first time as a kid, it utterly wowed me.”

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel.“An amazing graphic novel, it is also a stunning work of creative nonfiction and a beautifully written memoir that’s heartbreakingly honest.”

The Essential Rumi, New Expanded Edition by Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi.“I used to read one Rumi poem every night before I went to bed. It still amazes me that words Rumi wrote so long ago can be so relevant to my life today.”

Racing Hummingbirdsby Jeanann Verlee.“Jeanann Verlee was one of the first women I ever saw perform spoken-word poetry, and she not only ripped the rug out from under my feet, she lit it on fire. Her poetry is like a speeding train of chaos headed straight for your heart. (Confession: I also helped edit this one!)”

Pink Elephant by Rachel McKibbens. “Rachel McKibbens’ poetry comes in swinging and leaves me breathless. Her control over language is like none I’ve ever read.”

The Griffin & Sabine Trilogy by Nick Bantock.“My favorite books growing up. I loved the romance of secret letters and hidden worlds, and adored being able to physically open envelopes and feel like I was peering into something magic. Bantock’s work is so imaginative and stunning.”

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami.“I tell people that this book ruined my life in the best possible way. Meaning: I couldn’t stop reading it, and when it was done, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It invaded my dreams and affected the way I thought about the world.” (Note: This book also comes recommended by Chip Kidd.)

The Principles of Uncertainty by Maira Kalman.“I adore the whimsical nature of this book, and I appreciate how she creates art to help her figure things out— the same reason I write poetry.” (Also recommended by Keith Yamashita.)

Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.“I have a big soft spot for magical realism, and this book is one of the best examples I’ve found. Zafon’s story is a perfect read for book-lovers, especially ones who find old musty libraries romantic.”

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides.“I read this when I was in high school, and it turned everything I knew about gender upside down. I love the way Eugenides constructs this story, with history and fiction.”

Baratunde Thurston’s book picks

A brilliant author and clever comedian, Baratunde Thurston uses humor, truth and technology to tackle race, class and culture. He recently gave a talk at TEDxMidwest.

His curation philosophy: “All of the books on this list have affected the way I see the world in at least a semi-permanent fashion. They’ve turned me into that guy that won’t shut up to his friends about the idea he just read. And they were all written using word-processing software.”

His book picks:

The Power Brokerby Robert A. Caro.“This is the story of an activist empowered and then corrupted by his pursuit of power. It should be mandatory reading for anyone who claims to be a New Yorker.”

The New Jim Crowby Michelle Alexander.“This is one of those books you read knowing it will upset you, and yet you read it anyway. Simply put: the drug war is the U.S.’s latest version of a racial caste system that uses the label ‘felon’ to enable discrimination we would otherwise find deplorable.”

Some of My Best Friends Are Blackby Tanner Colby.“A white man named ‘Tanner’ wrote this book about the failure of integration in the United States. Looking at education, housing, church and advertising, the author finds that we are as effectively segregated as ever, not by happenstance but by engineering.”

Perdido Street Stationby China Miéville. “One of the most imaginative works of fiction I’ve ever read. This book changed the way I see the world of my dreams and my waking hours.”

Malcolm X: A Life of Reinventionby Manning Marable.“An amazing portrait of a force of a man. It made Malcolm X feel like a human being with whom I could identify.”

Daemonby Daniel Suarez.“One of the most terrifying techno-thrillers due to the fact that it was written by a computer security expert, it shows how our future could play out in a most dramatic fashion. This book could also be called This Is Why We’re F***ed.” (Suarez will be speaking at TEDGlobal.)

The Company: A Novel of the CIA by Robert Littell.“It’s a ‘fictionalized’ account of the formation of the Central Intelligence Agency. Yeah, right. Everything in this book is true!”

The Intuitionist: A Novel by Colson Whitehead.“There are two schools of elevator inspection in early-20th-century New York City: the empiricists, who use advanced instrumentation, and the intuitionists, who rely on gut feeling. The best intuitionist in the game is a black woman.”

Behind the Kitchen Door by Saru Jayaraman. “What good is your locally grown, grass-fed and serenaded beef if the people who prepare it are abused? This book makes the compelling case that our definition of sustainable food must also include restaurant workers. More than merely upsetting you with facts, this book lays out a path toward solutions.”

Horns: A Novel by Joe Hill.“I might categorize this as ‘playful horror.’ A man starts to grow devil-like horns, and people confess their worst sins to him. Hilarity ensues.”

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The recommender: Maria Popova, the editor of BrainPickings.org, is trilingual — speaking Russian, English and Spanish — and thus translates for TED.

Her curation philosophy: “Virginia Woolf wrote on the mesmerism of books. ‘I feel…as though the physical stuff of my brain were expanding, larger and larger, throbbing quicker and quicker with new blood — and there is no more delicious sensation than this.’ Gathered here are books to make both hemispheres throb.”

Her book picks:

I Saw a Peacock with a Fiery Tail by Ramsingh Urveti. “This die-cut masterpiece is based on a 17th-century British ‘trick’ poem and illustrated in the signature Indian folk art style of the Gond tribe by Ramsingh Urveti. It comes from the independent publisher Tara Books, who give voice to marginalized art and literature through remarkable handmade books.”

Big Questions from Little People by Gemma Elwin Harris. “The questions children ask are often so simple that they turn unwittingly philosophical. Harris asked thousands of primary school children to send in their most restless questions, then invited some of today’s most prominent thinkers – including TEDsters Alain de Botton, Mary Roach, and Richard Dawkins – to answer.”

Where the Heart Beats: John Cage, Zen Buddhism, and the Inner Life of Artists by Kay Larson. “An exceptional intellectual, creative and spiritual biography of Cage — one of the most influential composers in modern history, whose impact reaches beyond the realm of music and into art, literature, cinema, and just about every other aesthetic and conceptual expression of curiosity about the world.”

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The recommender: Radio veteran Guy Raz has covered war, peace and everything in-between. Last year, he left Weekend All Things Considered to host TED Radio Hour.

His curation philosophy: “I’m a generalist. I serve a vast, diverse audience of listeners with very different tastes — so when I feature a book, I look for a strong, compelling voice or narrative, no matter the topic.”

His book picks:

Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell. “This book has influenced my perspective as a reporter more than any other. Orwell went to Spain to write a triumphant narrative of the cause he supported, but what he saw fundamentally changed him.”

Letters to a Young Contrarian by Christopher Hitchens. “The power of Hitchens’ arguments strangles you because they are so tightly written and so convincing. His message is simple: don’t trust yourself and, once you’ve come to a conclusion, second-guess it.”

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond. “A book that needs to be read because Diamond raises important questions about why some societies came to dominate others. I came away convinced that ingenuity had almost nothing to do with it.”

Postcards from Tomorrow Square: Reports from China by James Fallows. “Fallows has become one of the most prescient journalists in the English-speaking world. This book gathers his best essays from China during the mid-2000s and tells the story of that country’s rapid economic rise through stories of dreamers, schemers, charlatans and heroes.”

Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi. “A wonderful resource for small children and a great refresher for adults.”

Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic by Tom Holland. “A serious, scholarly history of the fall of the Roman Republic. Holland has a gift for bringing the ancient world alive and capturing all its drama, treachery and wonder that makes it resonate to twenty-first century ears.”

Classics: A Very Short Introduction by Mary Beard. “By one of the greatest living scholars of the ancient world, who is also a polymath and can write about airport architecture, dogwalkers or good bars.”

>The recommender: Chip Kidd designs tantalizing book covers — and swears in his 2012 TED talk that it is, just sometimes, a laughing matter.

His curatorial philosophy: “As you may or may not know, I’m very much into graphic novels, and last year saw some of the best that were ever produced in the medium. Plus some other visual and verbal treats.”

His recommended books:

Buddha by Osama Tezuka.“This epic life of the Buddha in an eight-volume graphic novel is a must for all ages. Don’t let the Disney-esque style of the drawing fool you — this is as thought-provoking, profound and heartbreaking as it gets.”

Building Stories by Chris Ware.“The big graphic novel, literally, of the decade. Already hailed as a landmark in the art of graphic storytelling, it’s a true masterpiece of experimental story-telling.” (Also recommended by Safwat Saleem and Raney Aronson.)

The Hive by Charles Burns.“Part 2 of Burn’s eerily thrilling graphic novel epic that started with X’ed Out. It’s like the most fascinating nightmare you’ve ever seen.”

Wonder by R.J. Palacio.“This is a kids’ book, but it’s really for everyone. A brilliantly nuanced performance, in the voice of a severely deformed but otherwise normal 10-year boy trying to integrate himself into ‘normal’ society. You are with him every heartbreaking step along the way.”

100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design by Steven Heller and Veronique Vienne.“One of the best books on the history of graphic design that I’ve ever seen. Rather than break it down chronologically (as most do), Heller and Vienne take it one visual or conceptual idea at a time.”

Born Modern: The Life and Design of Alvin Lustig by Steven Heller & Elaine Lustig Cohen.“Alvin Lustig was the pre-eminent modernist book designer of the 20th century, and this long-overdue monograph of his work is an invaluable addition to any designer’s library.”

Cartooning: Philosophy and Practice by Ivan Brunetti. “A lovely, brilliantly simple introduction to the basic components of visual storytelling. Brunetti is a master of minimal gestures for maximum emotional effect. A must for any aspiring storyteller.”

>The recommender: At TED2009, MakeLoveNotPorn.com founder Cindy Gallop stepped up and gave a classic talk examining some of the ways that pornography has distorted the way young men parse sex.

NeuromancerbyWilliam Gibson.“I’ve read everything William Gibson has written several times over. Start with this — the novel that invented cyberspace. He’s my top must-follow on Twitter @greatdismal.” (Also recommended by Chris Kluwe, who says “Seriously, if you haven’t read this, you’re doing yourself a disservice.”)

Mysteries of Winterthurnby Joyce Carol Oates. “This was the first of Joyce Carol Oates’ books I ever read, and it totally hooked me on her.”

Rework by Jason Fried and David Hansson.“The only business book you’ll ever need. (Until I write mine.)”

LolitabyVladimir Nabokov.“A literary tour de force. I love the way it also functions as a wonderful American travelogue.”

Collected Works of Rudyard Kipling.“I love Rudyard Kipling – so much so that I had the opening stanza of ‘The Ballad of East and West’ screenprinted on the upholstery of a daybed. Great novelist, great short story writer, great poet.”

Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel.“I recommend this book to everybody — male or female, straight or gay, single or married — as a brilliant examination of the workings of human desire.”

The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving.“When I finished this book, I wanted to write to John Irving, gush all over the paper and say ‘You are a god.’ (I didn’t. Wish I had.)”

Why Have Kids? by Jessica Valenti.“I’ve said for years that one day I wanted to write a book that would be obligatory reading for every woman and man considering having kids, that laid out the case against as much as for. Jessica Valenti’s written it.”

Then We Came to the Endby Joshua Ferris.“Anybody who’s ever worked in an advertising agency — read this book. Also applies to anybody who’s ever worked in an office.”

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The recommender: TEDster Keith Yamashita, chair of SYPartners, uses his love of design and belief in creativity to tackle the world’s complex problems.

His curation philosophy: “There is nothing better on a Friday night than going to the bookstore and buying a stack of books. My philosophy for this collection was to examine what makes us humbly human.”

His book picks:

When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron.“A Buddhist meditation on the toughest parts of life, Pema teaches us that these moments deserve our leaning into them, not shying away from them. A heady, sobering book that’s optimistic about human kind.”

The Art of Possibility by Rosemonde Stone Zander and Ben Zander.“Ben is a conductor, but really, an expert on what makes people tick, aspire and rise to the occasion to be truly great.”

My Ideal Bookshelfby Thessaly La Force.“I love the peek inside the brains of so many people I admire, and the beautiful illustrations. It’s a true delight.”

Super Normalby Naoto Fukasawa and Jasper Morrison.“Naoto Fukasawa is Japan’s Jonathan Ive. This is a collection of everyday objects he has gathered. When you read it, you’ll never look at a plain object the same way again.”

Ways of Seeingby John Berger.“This book changed the way I look at the world. Literally. Figuratively. Meaningfully.” (Also recommended by Raghava KK.)

Press Hereby Herve Tullet.“A funny commentary on the human brain and how it works. Such a simple book, it gets you to appreciate the childlike joy of exploration. Press here. Do that. Delight in life.”

Design, Form and Chaos by Paul Rand.“Paul was a mentor to so many of us. I worked with Paul at NeXT Computer—and he was our grand visionary of the NeXT brand. May he rest in peace.”

Design as Artby Bruno Munari.“An oldie, but still some of the most interesting writing on design, creativity and life. I constantly go back to it for inspiration.”

An Intimate History of Humanityby Theodore Zeldin. “A history of human thoughts and feelings told through personal vignettes — after all, sometimes the best way to understand the future is to look at the creation of the past.”

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The recommender: Director and choreographer Bill T. Jones is a living legend and one of the greatest American performers of our time. He participated in TEDxBroadway last year.

His curation philoshophy: “I spend as much time listening to music as I do reading. So my choices reflect reading for research, intellectual entertainment and informing myself on topics I’d like to know more about.”

His book picks:

Triste Tropiques by Claude Lévi-Strauss, et. al.“This memoir is almost a travelogue. Its gifted author oscillates between disciplined scientist grieving at the changes he observes in the tropics and poet/philosopher using his powers of evocation and metaphor to raise scientific observations to the level of art.”

Rites of Springby Modris Eksteins.“This passionate account of what lead up to WW1 was part of my research for my most recent work, A Rite, a response to the 100th anniversary of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.”

Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en.“A curious compendium of folk tales based on the legendary pilgrimage to India by Tang-era Buddhist monk Xuanzang. The mischievous Monkey, one of the novel’s magical creatures, remains an enduring ‘star’ in theater.”

Tale of the Water Marginby Shi Nai’an.“This 14th-century tale is ribald, harrowing, suspenseful and ultimately mystical. The archetypical depiction of righteous persons in rebellion against the control of oppressive regimes.”

Austerlitzby W.G. Sebald.“A magisterial and elusive rumination on the boundaries of memory and understanding, this novel’s explosive tragic underpinning is triggered by a fortuitous reconnection between two acquaintances in Antwerp’s train station.”

Leaving the Atocha Stationby Ben Lerner.“A deceptively slight novel that brings us too close to the mind and empty inner life of a young product of our internet-dependent, self-obsessed, woozy culture.”

Obedience by Chris Vitiello.“A curiously moving, maddeningly self-conscious reach for meaning through a rigorous preoccupation with the conundrums of language and sign.”

The Once and Future King by T.H. White. “Entertaining, erudite, showy and deep, this adaptation of Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur is a great read. An adventure story that’s profound in its depiction of human intercourse.

His curation philosophy: “These are some of the more visual books I’ve enjoyed in the past couple of years. A mix of funny, beautiful, inappropriate, complex and mind-blowingly good, they are all quick reads.”

His book picks:

Significant Objectsby Rob Walker and Joshua Glenn.“The authors conducted an experiment to see if the value of material objects would change if they were coupled with a story that provided context about them. The results are fascinating.”

The Red Treeby Shaun Tan.“My all-time-favorite picture book. I came across it years ago and, for the very first time, realized how moving stories could be when told through pictures. The words are sparse but carefully chosen.”

Should You Be Laughing at This?by Hugleikur Dagsson.“I can’t think of a book that has a more apt title. Dagsson’s work is inappropriate (to put it mildly) but I laughed anyway.”

I Made These Drawings for You by Marc Johns.“One of my favorite illustrators. His watercolor drawings have the ability to turn the ordinary into surreal.”

I Want My Hat Backby Jon Klassen.“Klassen has a very unique illustration style and this picture book is pure eye candy.”

A Field Guide to the North American Familyby Garth Risk Hallberg.“Written as a visual field guide, this reinvents the concept of reading a book. It can be read in any order, while still developing as a compelling narrative.”

All My Friends Are Deadby Avery Monsen & Jory John.“The book Camus would’ve made if he could draw. And if he had a sense of humor.”

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The recommender: TED attendee Raney Aronson is better known as a filmmaker and the Deputy Executive Producer of Frontline, PBS’s iconic investigative program.

His curation philosophy: “Graphic novels and comic art speak to me as a documentary filmmaker, journalist and visual thinker. I love the texture of a book, combined with words, illustrations and photographs – it makes me feel as if I’ve opened a window into a surprising universe.”

His book picks:

Mausby Art Spiegelman. “A true classic. Filled with heart, angst and tragedy – this story spoke to me deeply as I attempted to grapple with the horrifying truths of the Holocaust as a younger person.”

The Arrival by Shaun Tan. “Anyone who has stood staring with curiosity at the stark photographs of those who came to America through Ellis Island will be transported by this beautiful and elegant series of portraits. Their faces and gestures tell the story of joy, anticipation, tragedy, dreams and loss as they anticipate what is to come.”

Market Day by James Sturm. “Starkly and dramatically drawn, and set in Eastern Europe in the early 1900s, this graphic novel brings alive a story about a man’s trials with changing economic and social forces. A timeless tale still resonates deeply.”

The Influencing Machineby Brooke Gladstone and illustrated by Josh Neufeld.“An irreverent telling, with heart and verve, of our nation’s media history — one worth noting as serious journalism suffers its biggest financial challenges in history.”

City of Glassby Paul Auster, Adaption by David Mazzucchelli and Paul Karasik.“I was fascinated to see how one of my all-time favorite novels was adapted by Mazzucchelli and Karasik. It is truly a new visual framework while staying authentic to Auster’s vision.”

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel. “A diary kept since Bechdel was a 10-year-old girl is the centerpiece of this graphic memoir. This memoir is not chronological as most are, but is told thematically by a person who has come to terms with her life as a whole.”

It’s A Good Life If You Don’t Weaken by Seth. “This graphic novel is angst ridden yet illuminating about what it means to come of age; to make sense of your childhood and move forward in a world of limitless possibilities. Simple yet powerful brushwork.”

Wilson by Daniel Clowes. “Wilson is a character you know you shouldn’t like, but you fall in love with anyway. He is self-deprecating and honest, delivering blunt thoughts with the dramatic flair that only Clowes can pull off.”

His curation philosophy: “Instead of bringing you the hottest books on the shelf, I decided to share with you books that have shaken me up and impacted the way I live, think, and laugh. I have a slight bias towards the visual arts, history and India, but hey, I’m an Indian artist who loves history.”

His book picks:

Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle. “I completely identified with the bratty kids in this story, and laughed and cried with this book. It’s a great example of an adult putting himself in the shoes of a child.”

India After Gandhi: The History of the World’s Largest Democracyby Ramachandra Guha. “A look at India as the world’s most impossible democracy, where every truism has an equally valid opposite truism. This history of the making of post-independence India inspiringly tells the story of finding unity in utter diversity.”

Wall and Piece by Banksy. “Do I really need to say anything about Bansky?”

Symbol by Steven Bateman. “A book of over a thousand symbols, organized into categories. It’s almost like defining a new visual vocabulary of the corporate world.”

Form+Code in Design, Art, and Architecture by Casey Reas. “The author of this book was a co-inventor of Processing, the open-source procedural drawing program where code has form and beauty. It allows artists to create pretty complex visual forms.”

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The recommender: As President of The White House Project, TED attendee Tiffany Dufu is igniting the leadership of women in business and politics.

Her curation philosophy: “I was a bookworm, an English major, and almost an English professor until a mentor explained to me there was life outside of academia. I love books and these are just a few of the ones I’ve bought several times, given away, then bought again.”

Necessary Dreams: Ambition in Women’s Changing Livesby Anna Fels. “It includes my favorite definition of ambition: the desire to achieve mastery and to be rewarded for it. Fels brilliantly articulates the complexity of ambition for half the population and addresses an important internal barrier to women’s advancement.”

Chris Kluwe

TED attendee Chris Kluwe, the former punter for the Minnesota Vikings who is headed to the Oakland Raiders, became one of the NFL’s most outspoken marriage-equality advocates when his colorful letter to a Maryland state delegate sparked a discussion about gay rights and professional sports.

His curation philosophy: “These are all books that I can read over and over; and have impacted my life through either the writing or the message conveyed.”

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. “An interesting read on the idea of total war and the sacrifices we ask of soldiers, as well as the concepts of how easily a child learns whatever they’re taught.”

Archform: Beautyby L. E. Modesitt Jr. “Modesitt combines excellent characterization with what we consider ‘beautiful,’ and how that can lead to starkly different outcomes in lives.”

Good Omens by Terry Prachett and Neil Gaiman. “Hilarious, irreverent, witty, and also a powerful statement on choosing to be who you want to be.”

Accelerando (Singularity) by Charles Stross. “A great look at both the near future of an augmented reality humanity, and the far future it could possibly lead to.”

The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks. “Culture novels are the world I would want to live in, and Player of Games shows what ‘gaming’ can actually reveal about us.”

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman. “An excellent read on both the military and bureaucracy, as well as what happens when you outlive the world you grew up in.”

The Belgariad by David Eddings. “Enjoyable high fantasy. They don’t all have to be complex.”

The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton. “Honestly, anything by Peter F. Hamilton is packed full of concepts, ideas and brilliant extrapolating of humanity’s spread to the stars. Read all of them.”

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The recommender: The editorial director of Twitter, Karen Wickre is an an avid reader and supporter of TED.

Her curation philosophy: “These six titles reflect my passions — graphic non-fiction, home and Buddhism, loosely defined. I hope you discover something that speaks to you in any one of them.”

Are You My Mother? By Alison Bechdel. “The saga of Alison’s gnarly relationship with her complicated, mixed-signal-emitting mother. It’s rich in self-awareness, humor, and a hard-won understanding of how life works.”

Comfortable With Uncertainty by Pema Chodron. “I have my share of Buddhism for Westerners titles; the ones I return to are by Pema Chodron. The chapters are short readings that guide us through the various difficulties of being human in a modern world.”

Home: What It Means and Why It Matters by Mary Gordon. “A lovely exploration of what makes a space into home, and how acutely we feel longing for that ideal. As a nester of the first order, I love understanding the deeper impulses.”

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. “This cabinet of wonders offers a secret bookstore, Google, magical characters and digital natives interacting and exploring the pull of old and new. Sloan is deft and affectionate.”

Colleen Keegan’s book picks

Co-chair of the endowment committee and Creative Capital Foundation Creator Colleen Keegan is an amazing patron of the TED, who regularly works with TED Fellows specializing in the arts.

Her curation philosophy: “I am fascinated by books that illuminate the creative process or that utilize art to explore the human condition. I think that books worth recommending are complex but accessible, inspirational and aspirational.”

Max Perkins: Editor of Genius by A. Scott Bers. “Chronicles the remarkable life and process of the editor of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Thomas Wolfe. It is a beautifully written story of literature, privilege, responsibility and creativity.”

My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk.“A wildly inventive novel about art and religion in The Ottoman Empire. One of the Nobel Prize winner’s best novels, it is a fascinating story of a murdered artist in sixteenth-century Istanbul.”

This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz. “A haunting and poetic exploration of the longing and weakness of the human heart, rooted in an understanding of the frailty of human nature.